Winter songs U-Z

Up in the morning early

Way up high in the winter sky

We sing of the polar bear

Who loves the trees best?

Who saw the footprints in the snow?

Willows in the snow

Winter goodbye!

Winter is cold

Winter joys

Winter whispers

Winter’s past

Wrap up warmly for winter

Also see:

A – I

J – O

The North wind doth blow

A chubby little snowman

The mitten song

Five little men made out of snow

And the YouTube playlist: Winter songs and poems

Last updated: 1/17/2022 3:07 PM

The songs below are part of ‘Away we go’ compiled, adapted and illustrated by Dany Rosevear

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To listen to music from these songs click on 🔊

To watch the author sing a song click on the title at:

You are free to copy, distribute, display and perform these works under the following conditions:

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Up in the morning early 🔊

A winter song and poem from Scotland. This song by Robert Burns was written in 1788.

Cauld blaws the wind frae east to west,

The drift is driving sairly;

Sae loud and shill's I hear the blast

I'm sure it's winter fairly.

Up in the morning's no for me,

Up in the morning early;

When a' the hills are covered wi' snaw,

I'm sure it's winter fairly.

The birds sit chittering in the thorn,

A' day they fare but sparely;

And lang's the night frae e'en to morn

I'm sure it's winter fairly

Up in the morning's no for me,

Up in the morning early;

When a' the hills are covered wi' snaw,

I'm sure it's winter fairly.

Way up high in the winter sky 🔊

A winter hand play to a familiar tune (Up on the rooftop).

Line 1. Raise hands above head, squeeze arms. 2. Point up with two fingers then hand to brow. 3. Flutter hands down to ground. 4. Turn hands in circle with hands fluttering all about. 5. Flutter hands down to ground. 6. Spread hands apart with wiggley fingers. 7. Hands cloak everything. 8. Put finger to mouth.

Way up high in the winter sky,

Two little snowflakes caught my eye;

Down to the ground they fell without a sound,

And before very long, it was snowing all around.

The snow fell softly all through the night,

It made a blanket soft and white;

It covered houses, flowers and ground,

But never made a single sound.

Shhhhhhhhhh!

We sing of the polar bear O

Long live the ice and snow to keep the diminishing number of polar bears happy.

To find more about the origins of this song and other versions visit: http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=71179

We sing of the polar bear fearless and bold.

He never feels hot and he never feels cold,

Because where he lives summer never occurs,

And the rest of the year he wears plenty of furs.

Tooralee, tooralay,

The ice and the snow keep him happy all day.

We sing of the polar bear fearless and bold.

He never feels hot and he never feels cold,

He dives in the water with a splash! and a splish!

Catching silvery fish it’s his favourite dish.

Toora lee, toora lay,

The ice and the snow keep him happy all day.

Who loves the trees best? 🔊

A song of the seasons. A poem by Alice May Douglas 1865 – 1943.

Music by Dany Rosevear.

Who loves the trees best?

“I,” said the spring,

“Their leaves so beautiful

To them I bring.”

Who loves the trees best?

“I,” summer said,

“I give them blossoms,

White, yellow, red.”

Who loves the trees best?

“I,” said the fall,

“I give luscious fruits,

Bright tints to all!”

Who loves the trees best?

“I love them best,”

Harsh winter answered,

“I give them rest.”

Who saw the footprints in the snow? O

Make footprints on a snowy day. Have a go at walking in each other’s footprints. Learn to identify animal tracks.

Encourage children to make up their own rhyming couplets.

Chorus

Who saw the footprints in the snow?

Who came along and where did she go?

The farmer’s wife has just been out

To scatter bits of bread about.

Chorus

One little sparrow was out today

He ate some bread and hopped away.

Chorus

A pigeon ate some breadcrumbs too,

She walked around, then off she flew.

Chorus

A cat crept up behind the hedge,

Then sprang onto the window ledge.

Chorus

A squirrel found the snow too deep,

So went off home to have some sleep.

Chorus

On his horse, the farmer’s son,

Went riding off to have some fun.

Chorus

Willows in the snow 🔊

Based on a Japanese haiku by Tsuru.

Music by Dany Rosevear.

The willows hanging low,

Shake from their long and trailing skirts

The freshly fallen snow.

Winter goodbye! 🔊

In hope.

A song from Germany for late Winter.

Winter goodbye! Winter goodbye!

Gone is the ice and snow,

Flowers will soon start to grow,

Winter goodbye! Winter goodbye!

You may no longer stay;

Springtime is on it’s way,

Winter goodbye! Winter goodbye!

Winter is cold 🔊

Love the words of this rhyme but despite research, have no idea of their origin.

Music and second part by Dany Rosevear.

Line 1. Hug yourself and shiver. 2. Wiggle fingers downwards. 3. Pretend to gather nuts. 4. Cross hands at wrist and flap. 5. Fingers to head as ears. 6. Stroke arms. 7. Form cave over head, 8. Hands to cheek. 2^nd part: Hands to cheek. Stretch arms. Open and close thumb and finger. Jump up and dance.

Winter is cold,

There is snow in the sky,

The squirrel gathers nuts

And the wild geese fly;

The little red fox,

Has his fur to keep warm,

The bear's in her cave,

Sleeping all through the storm.

Sleep, sleep, deep sleep, all winter long,

Wake up in the Spring, for the little birds sing,

Jump up and join in with their song.

Winter joys 🔊

A poem for Winter by Dorothy Graddon.

Music by Dany Rosevear.

White stars falling gently,

Softly down to earth,

Red fires burning brightly

In the warm and cosy hearth.

White trees changed to elfin-land,

By red sun's dazzling glow,

Little robin redbreasts

Hopping in the snow.

Happy children's voices,

Shouting loud with glee,

Oh! the joys of winter

Are wonderful to me.

Winter whispers 🔊

You never know when winter is going to creep up on you, especially a snowy day, it calls so quietly in the night!

Words and music by Dany Rosevear.

This could work as a handplay as below or for floating movements with white scarves.

Finger to lips. Hands swirl. Open eye with thumb and forefinger. Finger to lips. Hands to cheek. Stretch arms above heads.

Winter whispers, soft with snow,

Winter swirls and whirls and blows,

Robin opens one little eye

To a world as quiet as a lullaby;

A wonderland is winter’s bed,

Wake up! Wake up! All you sleepyheads!

Winter’s past 🔊

Spring is calling! A cheerful song to sing as winter ends its reign.

Written by May Morgan to a German folk song from ‘140 folk songs’ published in 1921.

Now at last winter’s past

Hear the robin calling

Waken flowers, gentle showers

Over you are falling

Down below quilts of snow

Long have you been lying;

Now come out, look about,

Soft the winds are sighing.

Lift your heads from your beds,

Rise and round you glancing,

See where May comes today

From the southland dancing.

Wrap up warmly for winter 🔊

It is great to be outside when the weather is cold as long as you are active and dressed suitably.

Music by Dany Rosevear.

Mime dressing.

Let’s put on our mittens and button our coat,

Wrap a scarf snugly around our throat;

Pull on our boots, fasten the straps,

And tie on tightly our warm winter caps.

Then open the door and out we go,

Into the soft and feathery snow.

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